Shield.



w. GRAVES. SHIELD. APPLICATION F1LVED`IJAN. 11. 1910.

Illu

UNITED sTATEs WILLARD GRAVES, 0F PONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented-Oct. 25, 1910.

Application tiled January 11, 1910. Serial No. 537,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLARD GRM/ns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pontiac, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shields, of which the following a specification.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in shields and has particular reference to a device of that kind to be employed by firemen. i

One object of the invention is the provision of a shield formed of asbestos or other non-heatconducting material and which may be readily carried by the firemen to a position comparatively close to the tire to be extii'iguished without exposing the operators to unnecessary danger. n

A further object is the provision ofa shield provided with an opening through which the nozzle of a hose may be inserted so that the operator behind the screen may direct the stream of water on to the fire to be extinguished. y i

further object is the provision of a shield comprising a pair of arcuate-shaped sections detachably connected, whereby they may be folded into a comparatively small space on u vehicle when being transported to the iirc.

A still further object is the provision of a shield having a frame provided with spurs to be embedded into the floor or other sur- Jface and operating to prevent the shield from sliding.

lith these and other objects in view, which will more fully hereinafter appear, the present invent-ion consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the speciication;-Figure l is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4t is an enlarged detail of the fastening members for the sections y showing portions of the section sides-partly in section.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The sections are designated in general by the numerals 5 and G. Since the sections are identical in structure a detail description of one will be sufficient. Each section comprises a frame oblong in contour, the opposite sides of which are designated by the numerals 7 and 8. The sides 7 and 8 may be of any desired length and are preferably made of a length greater than sinY t'eet. Connecting the upper ends of the sides 7 and 8 is an upper end piece 9. The end piece 9 is arcuate in contour and may be of any desired length. The lower end of the sides 7 and 8 are sharpened so as to provide spurs l() and connecting the lower end portions of the said sides is a lower end piece 1l conforming to the curvature of the upper end piece 9. yOverlying spaces bounded by the sides and ends and arranged in what will subsequently be termed the outer side of the frame is a sheet of asbestos l2. Formed adjacent to the upper end o'l the sheet and to one side of the center thereot' is an oblong opening 13 into which is fitted a sheet of mica 14, whereby a peep Vopening is provided4 in order that th'e operator may see the desired spot on which to direct the stream of water. Placed over the inner surface of the asbestos sheet 12 is a wire nett-ing 15 which is secured, in any suitable manner like the asbestos 12 to the sides and ends of the frame. By the provision of the wire netting l5 the asbestos sheet will be prevented from being accidentally torn by the clothing of the operator. By reference now to the drawings it will be seen that the medial portions of the sides 7 of the frames are curved inwardly (so as to provide semi-circular openings, whereby a circular opening will be presented when the said sides 7 bear one upon the other. This opening is designated by the numeral 16 and will be of suliicient diameter to permit the insertion of a nozzle.

By reference now to Fig. 3 it will be seen that extending outwardly and laterally from the side 7 of the frame V5 are a plurality of dowel pins 17 and Jformed in the adjacent side 7 of the section 6 are a plurality of sockets 18 to receive the dowel pins 17. The dowel pins 17 may be provided with any suitable form of spring latch in order to frictionally hold them within the sockets 18 when the sections are united.

By reference now to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the frames ot the sections 5 and 6 are yheld braced by means of a pair ofcross pieces l@ and 20, the opposite ends of which are secured to the sides T and S and at points between the middles and opposite ends or the sides and between the wire netting and asbestos.

Suitable handles 2l are provided by means of which the sections may be lifted. rlhese handles are preferably formed ot loops of flexible material secured to the medial portions ot the lower cross pieces i9.

By virtue of the contour of the sections, each being` the size approximately of a quadrant, it will be evident when the sections are brought together as shown in the drawings that ay substantially semi-circular shield will be presented, whereby the operators behind the shield will be protected both from the heat directly in advance of and on the sides of the shield.

It will be observed thatv the device is exceedingly simple in structure and inexpensive in manufacture and may be readily set up into operative position and when so positioned by virtue of the spurs l0 will be prevented from accidental movement.

I claim 1. A portable shield for firemen comprising a trame consisting of two arcuate seetions, means for detachably securing the said sections together, a sheet ot non-heatconducting material secured to the sides and ends or each section, said sheet having a peep opening adjacent to its upper end, said sections being provided at opposite points and at the medial portions of their adjacent sides with semi-circular openings, the sides ot' which flank an annular opei'iing when the sections are brought together, a cross piece connecting the medial portion or each of said sections, and a handle secured to the cross piece.

2. In a shield for firemen` an oblong frame the sides of which are connected together at their opposite ends by a pair or curved end pieces, a sheet ot' non-heat-eonducting material secured to the sides and ends ot the frame, said sheet having a peep opening adjacent to its upper end and further provided at a point below said peep open-- ing with an opening for the reception of a nozzle, a cross piece connecting the medial portions of the sides ot' the trame, a wire netting secured to the sides and ends of the fr: me and on that face ot' the latter opposite to the t'ace covered by the non-heat-eonducting material, and a handle secured to the cross piece.

In testimony whereotl I attix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLRD GRAVES.

lVitnesses z I. R. BLooMBt'nc, .Iums Sco'r'r. 

